Seat spring arrangement



May 18, 1965 c. s. VIALL, SR

SEAT SPRING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed July 28, 1961 s She ets-Sheet 1FIG. I

ma 9 "a a Plum uu INVHVTOR.

CHARLES S. VIALL,SR.

FIG. 2

ATTORNEY May 18, 1965 c. s. VIALL, SR 3,184,227

SEAT SPRING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed July 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

CHARLES S. VIALL, SR.

ATTORNEY May 18, 1965 c. s. VIALL, SR 3,184,227

SEAT SPRING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed July 28, 1961 3 Shets-Sheet 3FIG. IO

FIG. ll

INVENTOR.

CHARLES S. VIALL, SR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,184,227 SEAT SPRING NGEMENT Charles S.Viall, Sr., 11313 Charisey Drive, Whittier, Calif. Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 127,619, July 28, 1961. This application Mar. 6,1964, Ser. No.

11 Claims. (Cl. 267-188) This application is a continuation of mycopending application Serial No. 127,619, filed July 28, 1961, for SeatSpring Arrangement, and now abandoned.

This invention pertains to an arrangement for supporting the seatcushion of a chair, sofa or the like.

This spring support arrangement provides a design of the same generaltype as illustrated in Patents 2,437,119 and 2,485,650. However, inthese prior units difiiculty has been encountered due to stressconcentration in the lower leg of the rear spring, resulting inpremature crystallization and failure of this part. This inventionovercomes such limitation by the use of a pivotal connection at thebottom portion of the leg for the rear spring. Also, the presentinvention can be constructed to balance twisting forces on the springcoils, giving greater strength to the coil and increased lateralstability to the seat platform. In addition, this invention provides animproved attachment for the upper spring leg, giving it a rigidconnection to the support frame by means of a single clamping member.This invention also permits a platform type cushion support to beutilized in seats intended for more than one person. Previously it hadbeen necessary to supply a separate platform for each seat cushion, andthe unit was not adaptable for seating between these units. The designof the applicants invention not only permits seating at random in anylocation along a multiple seat unit, but also simplifies theconstruction by necessitating only a single platform for the unit.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a spring seatconstruction of greater comfort than conventional designs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cushion support unit ofsimplified low cost yet durable construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cushion support unitthat provides a platform having lateral stability, a spring ofdurability and high strength, and which results in valuable clearancefor frame bracing elements.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a spring supportarrangement in which stress concentrations are reduced and a longer lifeis achieved.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a spring seatsupport of a platform type usable with sofas, love seats or the likewhich are longer than a chair intended for single occupancy.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved clampingarrangement for springs to a cushion support platform.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a spring supportarrangement in which different spring rates are obtained for front andrear springs manufactured from the same gauge wire.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partially in section of a cushion supportunit of this invention applied to a chair frame;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the sameplane as FIG. 2 illustrating the detailed construction of the attachmentof the lower leg of the rear spring;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the spring connection ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the planeof FIG. 2 illustrating the connection of the upper spring leg to thecushion support frame;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified form of theinvention employing only rear springs;

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the invention asused for a multiple seat cushion unit;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the transverse rail units used inthe design of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a spring unit arranged to reducethe lateral bending moment on the spring coil, and also employing asingle clamp for securing the upper end of the spring coil;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the arrangement of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamp of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a modification in which two springs and aninterconnecting element are integrally constructed; and

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the design of FIG. 13.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawing, thespring support unit 1 of this invention is shown in conjunction with theframework 2 of a chair or the like. This framework, which normally isconstructed of wood, includes a front rail 3, a back rail 4, and a rearspring support rail 5 adjacent the back rail. These rails are held in aspaced parallel relationship by side rails 6 and 7 that interconnecttheir ends.

A rectangular metal platform 8 is supported on the framework by means offront coil spring units 9 and 10 and rear coil spring units 11 and 12.These may be helical torsion springs with their axes substantiallyparallel to the front and rear framework rails. The platform 8 maysimply consist of heavy gauge wire suitably bent to define a rectangularcontour, with the ends of the wires joined together by means of aferrule 14. The platform 8 serves to support the seat cushion, andaccordingly there may be attached to its webbing, springs or the like(not shown).

The front coil spring units 9 and 10 may be substantially identical tothe rear spring units 11 and 12. However, it generally is preferred toprovide a different spring rate for the springs at the front from thoseat the rear of the device, with the stiffer spring located at the rearof the cushion support. One method of accomplishing this is by makingthe front and rear spring units of different materials. Alternatively,the turns of the front units 9 and 10 may be made of larger diameterthan those of the rear spring coils. This is advantageous in that itallows the same materials to be used for all of the spring units,thereby simplifying production.

The spring coil units making up the spring pairs may be identical exceptthat they are of opposite hand configuration. As seen in FIG. 2, therear unit 11 includes an upper leg 16 inclining upwardly from coil 17 tothe lower edge of the side portion 18 of platform 8. The upper leg ofthe spring unit 11 continues through a short span 19 adjacent the sideelement 18, and then extends around the corner of the platform with itsend portion 28 beneath the rear rail 21 of the platform 8. Two clampingbrackets 23 receive the segments of the platform and the portions 19 and20 of the upper leg of the spring, securing the spring to the platform.These brackets are somewhat in the shape of a figure 8 and may be spotdric'a'l portion 28. I

welded to the frame 8. This, plus the angular. arrange ment of theportions 19 and 20 of the spring leg, provides a rigid connectionbetween the upper portion of the spring unit and the platform 8.

The lower portion of the coil 17 inclines downvva'rdly and to the rear,terminating in an'e'nd section 26 projecting inwardly substantiallyatright angles to the: downwardly inclined portion 25. The leg 26 issecured to the support rail 5 by means of a bracket 27.- The latterunit'in'cludes a cylindrical portion 28 positioned immediately forwardof the rail 5 and from whichproj'ectsfla n L-shaped base portion 29;'The upper part of the b'ase'2'9 lie's on top of rail '5, whilet-heend'of this element contacts "the rear verticalffac'e of the rail 5.Nails 30 -"Secure the base 29 to the rail 5. 1Leg' 26is'received withina bushing 31, which may be of nylon, carriedby the cylin The resultingconstruction is particularly advantageous in connecting the spring c'oilunit to the framework of the chair. The cylindrical portion 28 ofthe'support' mem: ber 27 for the bottom leg of thecoil allows 'theportio'n 28 to pivot relative .to the support as the sprihgis flexed.This free pivotal movement assures that significant bending forces arenot imposed upon the lower leg oft he "rea r spring, but are absorbedinstead in the coil portion of it. This greatly increases the life ofthe spring "element by avoiding fatigue failure in the lower leg-portionofthe coil nnit. In the past ifha s be'en the practieeto provide a rigidconnection at the bottom of the spnng coil. As a result, there has beena crystallization of the material in the lower leg of the coil in suchprior designs after a period of use. This tendency is entirely avoidedin "the present invention by the use of the pivotal connection for theangular portion 26 of the lower leg of the spring coil uni-t. a

The support element is advantageous additionally by reason of theL-shaped configuration of the portion 29 extending from the cylindricalsection 28. Byth'e use of such an angular elemeht, the support may befirmly secured to the rail 5 by means of n'ailswithou't danger of thenails pulling free. The-horizontally located :nail will encounter .pri'ma'rily shear forces which it can readily absorb. "This anchors thesupport member so thatthereis -notendencyffor it to be pried'upwardly asdow'nward forces-are imposed on the outer cylindricalp'orti'on 28.

The front coil units 9 and 10 may be secured Zmthe base 8 and to theframework of the chair substantially in the "same manner as for the rearunits. Thus, as seen in 2, the front unit 9 includes an upper "leg 32extending to the side'portion 18 of the platform 8 and havi-ng anextension 33 beneath the forward portion 34 of the 'base. A pair ofclamps 23 securesthe upperleg in place to fo'rm :a rigid connection withthe platform.

Lower leg 37- inclines -downwardlyffrom coil 38 and has an angular-1yprojecting portion 39 received in the cylindrical portion 28 of anothersupport member 27. in this mariner "the lower leg of the front coil unit9 is freely pivotal relative to the framework of the 'chair. Again,therefore, theadvanta-ge of the rotatable lower leg 7 is achieved andfatiguefailures are avoided.

The invention as illustrated in FIG. '6 isjsubstantially the same asinthe previously described embodiment with "the exception that thefrontfspring units 9 and 10 a're' 'o'm'itted. In placeof this, a frontsupport rail '44 is added,

locatedabove the front rail 3 'of'the chair frame. A pair of brackets 27pivotally receives thefron't element 21 of t-he seat platformandconnec'ts. also to the 'rail.44. The "necessary resilience for'theseat eushi'onisprovided by the a 'c withjthe design of. FIGS.

7, 8 and'9, the invention is adapted to usefwith sofais',';lo've seats,or other units where'm'ul'tiple seating is desired; This is accomplishedby jmeansof a'siiigle pmrerm rrame 4' 46, which again may be ofsubstantially rectangular construction. and of adequate length toprovide'the seating capacity required] Front and rear spring coils 47and 48 are provided at either end of the frame 46 and may be .5 isubstantially identical tothe corresponding coil units pre- 7 viouslydescribed. The coil units 49 and 59 that are positioned intermediate'theends' of the framework also may be'basically the same as inthejpreviously described embodiment. There may be additional sets ofintermediate coil units 49 and 50, depending on the length'of theseating arrangement produced, p r i Transverse'meinber "51 to which "theupper legs 52 and 53 ofthe intermediate coils attach includes a curvedcent-ral portion 5 at'theen'ds of which are 'sho'rt-sthaightsegments 55and 56. 'The latter -portionsare substantially in the pla-neof thecushion platform 46', at right angles to the front and rear rods 57 and58 of this frame. From the segments 5S and 56 the" memberfisl inclinesdownwardly for lengths 59 and ilgand its endsl and 62 are 20 *ben-tat'-substantially rig-htangles to the plane of the cen- .tra-l 'portion54. As aresult of this arrangement, the ends 51 and '62 of 'rn'ember 5 1may be attached tothe front and rear members 57 and '58 of the platformframe 46 by means of clamp elements-23. The short straight segments 5SE-and '56 allow-attachments of the upper legs -52'and 53 of the coil'units to the transverse memberrby means of similar clamps; By beingpositioned above the'ends 61 and '62, :the :portions F'S-and 56' allowthe upper spring legs to contact the under surface of the transversemom- 3() b'ejr, and in the same plane engage under surfaces of the frontand rear rails of the seat platform at their angled ends, This:permits'the use of spring units in the intermediate portion of thesupport structure that are the same as those positioned at the ends. 7

Of importancein the design of the transverse members 51 is thedownwardlyxinclined portion 54 which constitutes the major length oftheunit intermediate the front and rear rails of the {seat platform. Thedownwardlyconvex contour of this part of the transverse member providesaclearance so that it 'is' possible to position aseat I cushion ontheupper surface ofthe platform and to oc- 'cupy -the cushion at anypoint without causing theunder surface ofthe cushion to contact atransverse member. The downward flexing of the cushion and its supportwill not result in engagement wi-th' the transverse member 51 due to theclearance resulting from the bowed portion 54. In the past it has beennecessary to provide separate cushion support units for each :part of aunit intended for multiple occupancy. Also,'it has been impossible tosit with comfort on any part intermediate. the support unit dueto theinability of the=cushion to flex in view of the transverse members ofthe separate support units. With the present design, however, there is asaving in time and materials during construction of the multiple cushionthereon; 3 I 7 a An important variation in the design of the coil springis illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. This construction has several,advantages, producingstron-ger and more efiicient springs, as wellasstabilizing the platform. It also positionsthecoils further. insidethe frame to provide clearance forframe-bracing members which may beneeded .to increase the strength of the frame. It differs from thepreviously describedspring units. principally inithe tar.- .rangement ofthe ends .of the legs extending from-the coils, which .now arepositioned to beparallel and point inwardlyfin opposite directions. v V

The coil unit 63 includesan upper leg 64 and a'lower leg -65.-Thelatterelement project's laterally toward the .4framestructure-fromthe end ofthe coil gwhich'is adjacent the side rail167 of the. platform for. theseat'cushion. Tlie seat. platform used. with this coil arrangementmay'be either the ty'pedevi'sed for a single cushion, such as thatiin-FIGS.1-and-2, or for multiple-seating as'in the lve'rsioh v7 5 end.or are coilfisl'whichisremote from the 'side rail '67.

55 unit, and it is possible to sit'with comfort at any location Theupper leg 64 projects from the coil in the same general direction as thelower leg 65, and upwardly to the seat platform rail 66, which is atright angles to the rail 67 to form a corner of the seat platform. Theend of the upper leg 64 fits beneath the side rail 66 and is directedinwardly with respect to the coil, parallel to its axis. The distalportion 68 of the upper leg 64 extends around the corner defined by thejunction of the rails 66 and 67. Hence, the end portion of the leg 64 isdirected first axially inwardly with respect to the coil 63, extendingfrom the end at which the leg 64 is located toward the opposite end. Thedistal portion 68 of the coil then fits around the corner between therails 66 and 67, being therefore substantially L-shaped and terminatingbeneath the rail 67. The end of the leg 64 is secured to the rails 66and 67 by means of a clamp 71.

The bottom leg 65 of the coil unit 63 terminates in an end portion 69,which is at right angles to the remainder of the leg 65, and extendsinwardly with respect to the coil. A clamp 70 pivotally secures the end69 of the bottom leg 65 to the frame structure. This will be to eitherthe front or rear rail of the frame, depending upon which is adjacentthe coil unit 63. In the usual instance there are four of the coils 63,located at the four corners of the frame structure. Alternatively, theremay be only two of the spring units 63 located at the rear of the unitin a manner generally similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6.

Thus, the end of the leg 64 extends inwardly with respect to the coil inone direction, while the end of the leg 65 extends inwardly in theopposite direction, so that the end legs of the coil in effect cross attheir distal portions. This coil design offers the significantimprovement of rendering the seat platform much more stable than thepreviously described embodiments. By extending the end legs in oppositedirections, inwardly with respect to the coil of the spring, the springsbecome much more resistant to lateral forces. Side sway of the platformis prevalent with designs that do not incorporate this feature. However,in the arrangement of FIGS. and 11, such undesirable lateral instabilityis eliminated. Hence, the seat becomes much more comfortable, as well asbeing supported on a spring of greater strength and durability.

As a result of the construction of FIGS. 10 and 11, forces tending totwist the coil are balanced and there is an absence of distortion of thecoil as the spring is flexed. There are no large, unsupported twistingmoments imposed upon the coil. As a result, the coil is stronger, bettermaintains its shape, operates more efficiently, and has an increasedlife.

Another advantage realized from the construction of FIGS. 10 and 11 isthat the coils become positioned further from the corners of the framethan in the previous embodiments. By extending the end legs in oppositedirections and inwardly with respect to the coil, the coil then becomesspaced an appreciable distance from the side frame member adjacent theside rail 67. Otherwise, if constructed as shown in FIG. 1, the coilwould be quite close to this frame element, as are the coils 9, 10, 11and 12 with respect to the members 6 and 7. This added lateral spacinggives an advantageous clearance for corner blocks, rocker blocks andother frame-bracing members which frequently must be incorporated in theframe construction.

As the coil 63 is dimensioned, the bottom leg 65 is longer than the topleg 64 of the coil. When this is true for the rear coil units, it causesthe cushion platform to move in a more nearly vertical direction thanotherwise is the case, eliminating any tendency for it to shiftlaterally. This proportioning may be used to advantage for any of therear coils of this invention.

Also shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, as well as in the per- 7 spective view ofFIG. 12, is a clamp member 71 for securing the upper spring leg to theframe. This accomplishes the attachment by a single member having endsections 72 and 73 that receive both the seat platform frame and thespring leg. The end portions are formed to define partial cylinders 74and 75, and 76 and 77. The two cylindrical segments in each set joineach other, and the lower portions include splits 78 and 79 to permitassembly and clamping. The pairs of downwardly extending tabs 75a and77a on the lower partial cylinder sections may be tack welded togehterwhen the clamps are installed. The two end portions are rigidlyinterconnected by an intermediate strap 80. This single-piece clampmerely is contracted around both the rail of the platform and the springleg at both its ends to form the necessary attachment. This securelyholds the spring leg without permitting movement of it and withoutrequiring the clamping member to be spot welded to the platform as inthe previously described embodiment. Thus, a more trouble-freeconnection is achieved and assembly time is reduced.

Single unit construction also may be used for the front and rear springsand interconnecting transverse piece. This may be seen in FIGS. 13 and14 where front and rear springs 81 and 82 are integral withinterconnecting element 83. This transverse portion may be boweddownwardly to provide a clearance for downward movement of a seatcushion similarly to that afforded by member 51. The upper legs 84 and85 of the two springs extend laterally at segments 86 and 87 which jointhe opposite ends of element 83. Portions 86 and 87 are adapted toengage the underside of the front and rear portions of the platform towhich they are clamped in the usual manner. Preferably, they aresubstantially parallel to the axes of the spring coils (which areparallel to each other) and extend from one end toward the other. Thelower legs 88 and 89 include end segments 90 and 91 which are forattachment to the frame of the seating unit. These end portions also areparallel to the coil axes, each projecting inwardly from 'one end of thecoil toward the other for balancing the twisting forces on the coil.

The resulting construction allows one simple part to replace the threeseparate pieces 49, 50 and 51. Only two clamps are needed in connectingthe upper portion to the platform. This means a saving in both materialsand assembly time, and provides a reliable maintenance-free structure.While intended primarily for use intermediate the ends of a multiplecushion unit, it also may be employed to advantage at the end portionsas well. By omitting the straight end segments 55 and 56 of member 51,transverse element 83 provides a clearance beneath a seat cushion forthe full depth of the platform, which could not be accomplished wherethe portions 55 and 56 are present.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as givenby way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of thisinvention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A seat cushion support comprising a platform means adapted to supportseat cushion means,

a fixed structure,

and spring means interconnecting said platform means and said fixedstructure,

said spring means including at least two spring units for supportingsaid platform means with respect to said fixed structure, each of saidunits including a helical coil portion, an upper leg and a lower leg,

said upper leg extending laterally from one end of said helical coilportion to a position adjacent said platform means and including aportion extending from said position inwardly with respect to the axisof said coil,

said lower leg extending laterally from the opposite end of said coilmeans to a position adjacent said fixed structure and including aportion extending from said position inwardly with respect to the axisofsaid coil, 7

said portions of said upper and lowertlegs said spring units beingconstructed of a substantially identical material a with the helicalcoil portions of said spring units adjacent said front portion 'being oflarger diameter than that of the helical coil portions adjacent saidrear portion of said platform means. 3. A device as recited in claim 2in which said lower legs of saidg spring'units adjacent said rearportion of said platform means are longer than the upper legs of saidspring units adjacent said rear 1 portion. 4. A device as recited inclaim 1 in which said platform means is a substantially rectangular wireframe unit, said spring Unitsincluding at least two frontand two rearcoils,

the upper leg of each of said coils being adjacent the under surface ofsaid -wire frame and disposed at a corner thereof, 7 a 7/ said upper leghaving a distal end projecting laterally from said inwardly extendingportion toward said coils to provide said upper leg with a substantiallyL-shaped distal portion, 1

said means rigidly connecting said upper leg to said [7. Acushion-supporting device compris ng platform means including means toclamp said L-shaped distal portions beneath the corners of said wireframe. a t r 5. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said meanspivotallyconnectingsaid inwardly extending portions of said lower legsto said fixed structure includes i a substantially cylindricalelement'for each of said lower legs, V V and a bushing within'each ofsaid cylindrical elements, I

said inwardly extending portions of said lower legs being rotatablyreceived within. said bushings. V 6. A cushion-supporting devicecomprising .7 a platform adaptedto support seat cushion. means, aframework, V a and means resiliently connecting said platform to saidframework,

said platform including a front and a rear' elongated member, 7 j a a tj and spaced side 'rnembers interconnecting said elongated members,

said framework including spaced front and rear rails," j V saidresilient means including at least one spring 7 'unit adjacent the rearelongated member of said' platform at eitherside thereof, 7 a a r 8' 7each of said spring units including a helical coil,

said helical coils having their axes substantially parallel to saidfront and rear elongated .members, I an upper leg extending laterallyfrom said coil to the under surface of said platform,

said upper leg having an inwardly extending 1 portion substantiallyparallel to the adjacent rear elongated member of said platform anddirectedinwardly with respect to the axis of said coil, T

said inwardly extending portion having f an angled end extending aroundthe corner of said platform to the adjacent side member of saidplatform, means rigidly connecting said upper leg to. said platform,

'a lower leg extending laterally from said coil to said and cylindricalreceptacle means pivotally connecting said ends of said lower legs tosaid rail,

said ends of said lower legs being axially aligned with said cylindricalreceptacles.

' a platform adapted to support acushion,v

said platform including'a substantially rectangular element having frontand rear elements interconnected by a duality of side elements,

and a spring unit at each corner of said frame interconnecting saidframe and said platform, each spring unit including a helical coilhaving its axis substantially parallel to said front and rear rails,

a lower leg extending laterally from said coil at the end thereofjuxtapositional the side rail at the corner where said coil is locatedto the adjacent one of said front and rear rails,

vsaid lower leg having a distal end'extending inwardly with respect tosaid coil and'substantially parallel to the axis thereof,-

and an upper leg extending laterally in the same general direction assaid lower leg from the opposite end of said coil to the adjacent one ofsaid front and rear platform *elements, A

said upper leg having a distal end including a portion extendinginwardly with respect to said coil and substantially parallel to theaxis/thereof, said distalends thereby being substantially parallel andextending in opposite directions, '7 f a" bearing for each of said endsof said lower legs carriedby said front and rear rails, and a clamprigidly connecting said distal ends of saidupperlegs to said-rectangularelement. I a i i 8. A device as. recited in olaimjin which 7 said'distal'ends of said upper legs engage the lower surfaceof saidrectangularwire element, a V said'distal ends including outer portionsextending at right angles to said inwardly extending portion of saidupper leg and beneath the adjacent side element of said rectangularelement, said clamp securing each of said distal ends of said upper legsto said adjacent side element,

and to the adjacent one of said front and rear elements of saidrectangular element. 9. A device as recited in claim 7 in which saidclamp for connecting said distal ends of said upper legs to saidrectangular element includes receptacle opposite end portions forreceiving and gripping said element and spring leg one above the other,

said end portions being disposed at right angles to each other, saidclamp further having a rigid intermediate portion interconnecting saidend portions and maintaining said portions in said angular relationshipwith each other. 10. A cushion-supporting device comprising a structuralframework, a platform adapted to support cushion means, and meansresiliently connecting said platform to said framework,

said last mentioned means including spring units at the ends of saidplatform and at least one spring unit intermediate the ends of saidplatform,

said intermediate spring unit including a duality of coil means disposedone at either end thereof,

each of said coil means including a helical torsion spring having alower leg connected to said framework, an upper leg connected to saidplatform,

and an elongated element interconnecting said upper legs and integraltherewith, said upper and lower legs each including an end portion inspaced parallelism with the axis of its spring and extending inwardlyfrom one end of the spring toward the other. 11. A device as recited inclaim 10 in which portions of said elongated element between said upperlegs are below the ends of said upper legs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,034,109 3/36Marshall 267-108 2,437,119 3/48 Overby et al 267108 2,871,923 2/59Stubnitz et al 267-108 FOREIGN PATENTS 109,050 1 l/ 39 Australia.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

1. A SEAT CUSHION SUPPORT COMPRISING A PLATFORM MEANS ADAPTED TOOSUPPORT SEAT CUSHION MEANS, A FIXED STRUCTURE, AND SPRING MEANSINTERCONNECTING SAID PLATFORM MEANS AND SAID FIXED STRUCTURE, SAIDSPRING MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO SPRING UNITS FOR SUPPORTING SAIDPLATFORM MEANS WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIXED STRUCTURE, EACH OF SAID UNITSINCLUDING A HELICAL COIL PORTION, AN UPPER LEG AND A LOWER LEG, SAIDUPPER LEG EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM ONE END OF SAID HELICAL COIL PORTIONTO A PORTION ADJACENT SAID PLATFORM MEANS AND INCLUDING A PORTIONEXTENDING FROM SAID POSITION INWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF SAIDCOIL, SAID LOWER LEG EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM THE OPPOSITE END OF SAIDCOIL MEANS TO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID FIXED STRUCTURE AND INCLUDING APORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID POSITION INWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID AXISOF SAID COIL, SAID PORTIONS OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER LEGS BEINGSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL, AND EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, MEANSRIGIDLY CONNECTING SAID PORTION OF SAID UPPER LEG TO SAID FRAME ANDMEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID LOWERLEG TO SAID FIXED STRUCTURE.